Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-06-24

There were 1eW VINO DcHcNc"
that he might be innocent. " hen
it became generally known that ne
had been a suitor for Eva Hey
mann's hand without the sanction
of her father, revenge was added to
the motive of murder. Ellen
Grav's word was believed. She
was a girl of violent passions, but
her veracity in tins case was not
questioned. She acknowledged
that she loved Abner Tenny, hence
her reluctance to testify, and after
the preliminary examination she
said that she regretted having re-
vealed the secret. But it was out
now. and the young man lying in
the county jail reiterated his lnno'
cepce. but still he refused to dis
close his whereabouts and Occupa-
ton on that night. There we're
several parties who had seen the
accused near the scene of the crime
at that late hour of the night. lie
did not deny this, but preslstentiy
refused to explain his presence
there. HIS father visited him and
begged him to unburden him
self; but he invariably returned
the same reply.
"Were I TO tell you, you would
feel as badly as though ] had com
mitted the murder
The young man was visited oy
many acquaintances, to whom he
would not reveal his secret, and 1t
at last became more than half sus-
pected that he had accompllces
who had concealed the money,
not one dollar OF which had as yet
been found.
Ellen Gray continued 10 Teaitirm
her statement. She was confident
that she had heard AbneT Tenney,
in tones that left no doubt in her
mind, address the murdered man.
As the time for the trial approach
ed she lost her reluctance, and tru-
IL declared that she knew that the
accused had committed the crime.
Her brother, not having been az
home on the night of the murder,
was not summoned as a witness.
Il was known that he, 700. had Wis
tied the Heymann homestead as a
suitor of Ega's hand, but that OF
late he had turned his attention TO
another lady 70 whom he was pay
ing his devoirs.
The excitement consequent upon
the farmers death and Abner Ten
ney's arrest did not for one mo-
ment abate during his soiourn in
jail. To his best friend, John
French, he said
"Spare me, John. YOu know
where was thai night. You
know what | was doing. If es-
cape this time, l will be a better
man. The murder Of my honor
would send my father TO the grave
as quickly as the shedding Of NY
blood by the law. DO not come
forward and try to save me by sac
rifclng my honor
"They will hang you if you do
not tell all" was the reply. "Let
US swear to tell the truth. III not
let Eva believe you killed her
father"
The last sentence drove Abner
Tenney to the wall in his cell with
a groan. II seemed to unnerve
him.
"She will never believe it" he
cried a moment afterwards. ain
her eyes l will ever remain guilt
less of her fathers murder, even
though they hang me for the crime"
The young mans visitor left the
jail and joined twoOther men Of his
age in the corridor of the Jail, after
having bidden adieu to the warden
of the prison, who was an interest
ed listener to the conversation.
The trial came at last, and the
accused plead "not guilty in a
firm voice.
Ellen Gray repeated her testi-
mony, so damaging to the defence,
and adhered to it through a vigo~
rOus cross.Questioning to which she
was subjected. She had heard the
cries after the blows. She was
positive of this.
The other evidence offered bv
the State was merely circumstan-
tial. The defence introduced the
Professor, who explained the ma
ture of the wounds aud swOre that
the first blow had produced instant
death. This produced sensation
IN court. It staggered Ellen Gray's
testimony, until that hour belle ved
invulnerable. The blows that now
followed from the defence were
hard and telling ones.
MURDER WILL OUT.
No alibi was attempted. The
accused had forbidden such a plan,
on the ground that it would reveal
the secret that he was guarding 50
closely; but the defence became
aggressive. II proved that Hiram
Gray, Euen's brother, was not
where lie said he was on the night
of the murder AS the young man
was not under arrest, the court
forbade the introduction of such
fastitoonv vohon John French. who